Keep Moving and Eat Well

Some people think that no matter how "healthy" their diet is they can slack on the workouts. Not so! The key to good health is a diet high in a variety of vegetables, fruits, with seeds, grains and some nuts minimizing(if not eliminating) animal proteins of all kinds. This means dairy, meats, fish, and eggs of all kinds. I know you are thinking, " But Lise! That is NOT what the mainstream media has been saying! How can you say that and why?!" Easy...because it is the truth, that is why. The mainstream "healthy diet" has always pushed high protein foods, pegging animal based proteins as the best source for muscle building and repair. Yes, animal based proteins do help these cells increase at a high level...but at what cost? The cells that are also being nourished are diseased cells. Cancer cells, and such are not left out when the time for reproduction of cells occurs. On the contrary, there is no preference in this process. ALL cells are nourished, even the bad ones.

It's not because we need to all hold hands and sing happy songs that I am saying that the plant based diet is the way to go, (although I am sure it wouldn't hurt in the same respect). I say this because it is the wide variety of disease fighting antioxidants in plants that the body needs and uses to get what it truly needs. There are no micro nutrients and antioxidants in animal proteins. Vitamin D is added to milk, and high animal protein intake actually blocks the absorption of Vitamin D, and calcium for that matter!! The animal may have Vitamin D in it...but it made that for it's own use, just as our bodies do! We can't absorb the animal's source for our own use, it doesn't work. Go to www.tcolincampbell.org, or read the Harvard Nurses Study for information regarding vitamin D and calcium absorption and release from increased animal proteins. John Robbins also wrote a great book called "The Food Revolution" which sites this study and I feel should be required reading for every person in the country.

That is why high animal protein consumption is linked to colorectal cancers ( and other forms) as we make our own from sunlight. And popping a vitamin isn't the answer. It can be used as a compliment to a diet lacking, but the only true way to ensure these nutrients and proper absorption of them is to eat the vegetables and fruits themselves, and get some daylight for about 10 minutes or so a day.

If you don't like vegetables, dress them up a bit. Add lemon, or hummus, or a bit of orange juice to add flavor you like. Even a touch of pomegranate adds a nice flavor to say...brussel sprouts. Okay, a big touch, but the point is if you don't eat what your body truly needs, and eat what the major companies are telling you to eat simply because they sell it ( or are working with those that do) you will become ill. It may not happen all at once, but it will happen eventually. Sadly these diseases come in the form of not just cancer, but M.S., Fibromyalgia, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and many other forms of cardiovascular disease.

As for the workouts, start light and go for a walk or a swim, or even do some chair workouts if you can't get up and walk around! How? Grab a resistance chord or some light dumbbells, and start doing reps that you can handle to get your body moving. Doing light repetitions ( the same movement over and over) to start with, and getting up to the point where you can do 20 to 25 reps at a time is ideal! Don't ever think that it is too late or that it won't help, because it will. Get your heart rate up for 20 to 30 minutes a day for good cardiovascular health and prevention of disease! It can be done and YOU can do it! Not moving has the same effect on your cardiovascular system as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day! You can fix that! Keep moving, and eat well, and you will feel amazing!Add resistance training to help build strong bones and muscles and be strong no matter what your age or fitness level. Even if it takes a little while to get there, you can do it!!! Get moving, and eat your veggies and you can be Healthy at 100!

Classic Fitness with a Plant Based Diet

We are lacking in all the good things we are supposed to be eating and letting our bodies believe that the refined sugars, and the processed foods are all we need. A plant based diet is actually able to reverse disease, prevent disease, and ensure health as it does in remote parts of the world. Why? Because these people depend on the diverse colorful vegetable and fruits that they have been eating for centuries. While the western or "affluent" diet is the one responsible for causing degenerative diseases such as cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, dementia, Alzheimer's, associated strong links to the cause and progression of autoimmune disorders and overall obesity and illness in this and other economically advanced countries. Take a good hard look at what you and your loved ones are eating and you will find the source of true health and happiness. Fruits and vegetables with seeds, nuts and grains are the key to a truly healthy lifestyle. Omit oils, too many nuts, and eliminate or keep animal based proteins ( eggs, milk, whey, casein, meat, fish, yogurt, ice cream, butter, cheeses ...) down to 5% of your dietary intake as a whole. If you have a disorder or disease already, eliminate the animal based proteins and let your body heal itself. Please go to www.tcolincampbell.org for more information and informative articles on how to truly heal or prevent disease for you and your loved ones.

Preserve and empower your life! www.puremarketexpress.com for trying great plant based foods to help you change your diet and outlook on what real healthy food can be!

The Daily Weaving: St. Brigid's Cross

The Daily Weaving: St. Brigid's Cross

Autumn Antioxidant Health

Well, that didn’t take long, did it? Autumn arrived full blast, and you can bet there will be some caught with their immunities down! Don’t be one of them! Keep your immunities up with healthy foods, and heart warming dishes and good wishes! Awe, that sounds so sweet!
It is really, and so it should be in these colder, cloudier months, we tend to get a bit on the blue side, and that can really drop your resistance to illness and fatigue. What we can do is keep our spirits high, and our menu bright as well! How? Add a bit more of the yellow , orange and red foods for vitamins we need for resistance to illness. Beta carotene, vitamins C, A, carotenoids for cellular health and protection from cellular damage. These antioxidants provide essential health properties we need for optimal health.
And who would have guessed the colors of sunshine would be the colors of the foods we need to stay healthy in the colder season. Here are some great fruits and vegetables to keep us bright in the bluer months!
Squash, pumpkin, carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, sweet peppers-yellow, orange or red- for a sweet snack that is great in salad, too! Keep that orange juice handy, (buy low acid if you have tummy issues), or try cranberry, blueberry, and for a brilliant antioxidant boos, pomegranate juice! It’s antioxidant value is above and beyond! And it is a nice holiday garnish on a yogurt or ice cream treat if you like. Blend it in a smoothie for a good blast with protein powder. The Acai berry of Brazil is most definitely something to get your hands on if you can! Try the health food store, Genesis brand, or try Amazon Thunder, an online company that will deliver the most amount of the berry in freeze dried form. All the berries you like, and as often as possible.
Hit the local market for seasonal foods, and keep them in use as much as possible. Don’t depend on foods that are not normally in season from main supermarkets, as you can bet there is a lot of Genetically Modified products on those produce shelves. If getting there and keeping up with all that is too much, try an antioxidant blend, like Antioxidant Science with five servings of fruits and vegetables per serving. Sometimes it is great help when you can’t keep up with the produce cost or demand in the house. There is also a coupon code:SAVE35 for saving 35% off the entire order.
There is a great little fall soup recipe that keeps me warm, in case you’d like a change.
Autumn Barley Bowl
1 large pot of water
½ box low sodium vegetable broth
1 ½ cups of barley
2 carrots chopped
1 celery stalk chopped well
2 potatoes peeled and chopped
1 small onion chopped
2 cloves chopped garlic (more if you like- I like!)
1 small chopped turnip (rutabaga)
1/4 cup dried wakame
1/8 tsp. Ground ginger
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons Italian or mixed Provincial herbs
1 can organic squash
*1 secret weapon ingredient!
Heat water, add vegetable broth, and the can of squash. Add all other ingredients, and stir.
* Now your secret weapon ingredient is something with a kick, that you like! It can be curry, mustard powder, or my favorite...Pick-a-peppa Jamaican Sauce. Oh, yes! It is quite a great little kicker, and I usually toss in a good 3 tablespoons or so, to taste. Many don’t like the pick-a-peppa, let alone the healthy soup, so that is why it is a"pick your own". Try a good chipotle sauce or use your imagination. Spicey foods act as a thermogenic, making your body burn 25% more calories than you would without the spice up! It’s also great for anti-inflammatory purposes and keeps us warm in the cold months! I hope you enjoy, if you brave the Barley Bowl!

Misleading Food Labels

The Dangers of Misleading Ad Campaigns for Unhealthy "Healthy" Food
The fact of the matter is, most of the junk foods out there that are tooting that they really aren't "that bad" after all....still are! They are trying to mislead the public with their "healthy ingredients", and their slick labeling tricks. So, the next time you think it's alright to get a pack of the typical junk foods because they seem to be redeeming themselves....look again. The difference is usually a better ad campaign, a new marketing twist, and a better way to fool those who don't know better, and may be too busy, or too trusting , to find out the truth for themselves. So for the health of your kids, read the article on what they'd rather you didn't find out.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnews/10thingsthefoodindustrydoesntwantyoutoknow
It is really a great way to realize that they have little, or no concern about your health, or the health of you family. They are concerned with making sales goals for that next quarter, or the bonuses that go along with it. I am sure that because of their knowledge of the real ingredients and the adverse effects it really does have on a person's health, they are eating the best quality organic fruits and vegetables, and getting enough exercise and necessary rest when needed. Please take the time to read the ingredients and the nutritional value of these products. Keep in mind that you need to be mindful of what you eat, and what you are putting on the table at your house. People may depend on you for good nutrition for health and wellbeing. Don't let convevience let the junk food companies win.
Look for more articles on nutrition and general health , and let good health and happiness be your way of life! Quality of life is dictated by diet and exercise, and how you feel is a result of both. Enjoy life, and pass it on!!
Be happy and healthy! Always!

Antioxidants for Autumn

Along with multiviatamins and a good diet, antioxidants must be a part of defense against the cold and flu season. Regardless of how well we try to eat in the winter months, sometimes we need a little help keeping the antioxidants working for our health. We have enough trouble getting all the fruits and vegetables we need , and a bit of help is most welcomed, and very good indeed!
Fighting the FREE RADICALS that harm the cells in the body,(Free radicals cause disease and other aging effects on the body and brain),is what antioxidants do, and they are extremely important to our health and wellbeing. It is important to have a diet that has a wide variety of colors of fruits and vegetables for optimal health . When we have trouble accomplishing that, we need a bit of healthy antioxidant help good for the whole family. We can always step up the menu a bit with some pumpkin bread and squash soups, for vitamin A. Add some walnuts, and a few dark chocolate chips for a great tasting added boost to heart health! Don't forget the tea, preferably green, and once in a while a bit of hot chocolate for a warm boost. Just ask for fat free milk , or a low fat soy if that's more your speed. For more information on the positive effects of soy, and Antioxidants, refer to the clinical studies at http://classicnutrition.net .
The site is full of all kinds of free information, and helpful advice!
Antioxidant Clinical Studies are available when you click on the photos to the left of the page, or at the site library. Be healthy and happy!!

Quality Whey Protein

The importance of protein after a workout is extremely important. Most people just grab the most popular whey protein with the best advertising backing it. However, the body does prefer food to a protein shake.
Whole foods are the best way to feed the body, as it easily recognized and absorbed, especially organic fruits and vegetables, with lean meats and fat free dairy.
What do you do if you don’t have "whole food products"
as a protein source right after a workout? What if the easiest and less expensive way is to give yourself a protein shake after each workout? What brand do you use?
Most protein shakes out there are made with lower grade whey protein, and there is no guarantee that the cows it came from aren’t those injected with the hormones and antibiotics, that we humans really do not need! They are also usually sweetened with artificial sweeteners like sucrose, or sucralose, or some other popular chemical that is not accepted by the body. Seriously, this stuff has been proven (in several studies) to be more of a problem than a help!
There is a great whey protein available, with plenty of Branch Chain Amino Acids, natural flavors, sweetened with Stevia, (an all natural sweetener that doesn’t affect blood sugar), and 18 grams of hormone/ chemical free protein per serving. And it is extremely affordable.
You can check out all the ingredients and nutritional information to see for yourself. The website is listed below.
Remember to have your recovery protein immediately following your workout. The longer you wait, even 20 minutes, the more muscle you risk losing! Immediate intake prevents the body from refueling on muscle, so get that protein!
Be happy and healthy!http://classicnutrition.net